Mercedes-Benz Crafts GT3 Racing Car Out of SLS AMG
AMG says it should have cars delivered to customers before the start of the 2011 GT3 season.

Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz B-class Could Spawn SUV, Sedan Variants for U.S. Market
Mercedes-Benz has previously toyed with the notion of bringing its compact B-class range to the United States, but new reports suggest at least two different models could ultimately arrive in our market.



According to Automotive News, M-B marketing chief Joachim Schmidt says the new B-class range will have no less than four variants, and two -- an SUV and hatchback -- are likely to make the trip across the pond. A sedan model is also in the works, and it too could ultimately wind up in America.

Although Mercedes-Benz plans on launching the new B-class range in Europe by the end of next year, the timing of a U.S. launch is uncertain. Schmidt cited the fluxing exchange rate as one hurdle, but also noted that -- as is often the case with small cars -- the business case rests with fuel costs in the U.S.

“The behavior of Americans depends on fuel prices,” Schmidt said, noting his group has seen U.S. consumers move backed towards light trucks. “Nevertheless, we also see a trend towards fuel-efficient cars.”

Even if Mercedes decides to withhold the B-class from our market, it may still come to North America for the Canadian market. The compact five-door hatchback has been offered in Canada since 2005.

Source: Automotive News (subscription required)

Next-Generation Mercedes-Benz SLK Spied

Hybrid Haulers: Ford Announces C-Max Hybrids for European Market

Source: Ford

Chrysler May Abandon Sebring Nameplate
Chrysler is planning to significantly revamp its lineup in the near future, and is promising nine significantly upgraded vehicles -- Chrysler calls them "new" -- by the end of this year. The Sebring is one of those cars on the block. Apart from ditching most of the features found on the current car, CEO Sergio Marchionne suggests the new car may even ditch the Sebring nameplate.

“You’ll see a completely different animal,” said Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler Group, speaking about the Sebring replacement scheduled to go on sale in the fourth quarter this year. “Actually, we were having a discussion about what name this animal should have. The jury’s still out.”

While details about the upgraded Sebring are rather scarce, Marchionne says the changes will be significant. The most significant changes will come in the interior, where hard plastics currently abound. The new interior should look more like the new Ram trucks’ interior, with numerous leather appointments.



Chrysler’s significantly refreshed Sebring -- or whatever it will be called -- is due in the fourth quarter this year, along with eight other significantly upgraded Chrysler products. The Sebring refresh comes just over two years before the brand new model based off a Fiat platform debuts in 2013.

Subaru Tecnica Institute has produced high performance vehicles for over 22 years, but for the first time in its history, there may soon be a diesel-powered Subaru Impreza, tuned for performance, in Europe.



Subaru developed a diesel variant of its famous boxer engine for Europe, which made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2007. Fast forward to January 2009, when it launched the diesel-powered Impreza for Europe, whose 2.0-liter flat four turbocharged engine produced 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. With Europe's strict emission laws, a diesel-powered STI could be just what Subaru needs to remain compliant.

But will a diesel-powered STI be able to compete with its gasoline-powered stable mate? With a little massaging from Subaru's in-house racing division, it should easily be able to compete. With its low center of gravity, superior fuel economy and low-end torque, a diesel boxer would make perfect sense for the STI. A 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four gasoline powered STI pumps out 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque, and we're confident Subaru wouldn't release an oil burning Impreza WRX STI unless it was comparable to the gasoline version.

Just this week, we reported that Subaru greatly improved upon the 2011 STI's handling characteristics. New anti-roll bars, stiffer springs, improved bushings and a lowered ride height all combine for the improved handling. With its improved equipment, the Subaru just lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a record-breaking 7:55. If the rumors from Autocar are true, don't expect a diesel STI to be launched until the Impreza enters its next generation for the 2012 model year.

Source: Autocar

Spanish designer's Honda RA-X concept has us intrigued

 With the S2000 going, going, gone and sports car fans left to wait until the CR-Z arrives, some car designers have taken to creating Honda sports cars on their own. This effort is from Spaniard Xuacu Perez, who wanted to design a modern Honda that spoke to the company's Formula 1 cars from the sixties.



It's called the RA-X, the first two letters pulled from Honda's F1 nomenclature, with a direct tie being the exhaust outlets, which mimic those on the RA300 from 1967. Quite compact at just 13.3 feet long, 3.8 feet high, and 6.4 feet wide (4050 mm / 1163 mm / 1940 mm), theoretical power could be in excess of 350 hp from the mid-engined, rear-wheel drive layout.

The X in the name comes from the cross formed by the side's design elements. It's all kinds of edges and smooth bits all mixed together, with a rear end that reminds us of a slightly softer Zenvo ST1... which gets us to wondering what a small, nimble, Zenvo-by-Honda could be... And that's reason alone to justify the RA-X's existence. Hat tip to LoboSylva